CHEMISTRY. 721 



extracted with water and with a physiological solution of salt from the 

 powdered seed, first removing fat, etc., with alcohol and ether. The 

 greater portion of the book is devoted to a report of experiments on the 

 effect of the croton-seed extract on the blood and blood constituents. 

 The author gives a brief account of previous investigations on croton 

 seed and its poisonous properties, and also on abrin and ricin. 



Report of the chemist, Li. De Koode ( West Virginia St a. h'pt. 1891, 

 pp. 21-41). — This report is devoted to a brief summary of the work of 

 the year in the chemical department of the station and descriptions of 

 methods for the determination of phosphoric acid in fertilizers, for the 

 analysis of soils, and for the determination of fertilizing ingredients in 

 plants, together with analyses of fertilizing materials, muck, water, 

 soil from experimental plats, and grasses and weeds with reference to 

 food and fertilizing constituents. 1 A method is given for the determi- 

 nation of phosphoric acid and nitrogeu in the same weighed sample of 

 fertilizer, which has already been noted. 2 The methods used in the 

 analysis of soils and of the ash of plants are given in detail. The prin- 

 cipal advantage claimed for the method of soil analysis is that it calls 

 for larger quantities of soil than are usually prescribed, and thus gives 

 larger precipitates with which to work. In other respects the methods 

 are mainly modifications of well-known processes. 



The determination of nitrogen in organic substances by the 

 Kjeldahl-Wilfarth method, 11. de Bohtlingk (Arch. 8d. Biol. [St. 

 Petersburg], 5 [1897), Xos. 2-3, pp. 170-196; abs. in Chem. Ztg., 21 (1897), 

 No. 89, Repert., p. 251). — The method is recommended for the determi- 

 nation of nitrogen in substances of animal origin. Of solutions use 

 100 cc, of solids 1 to 3 gm. Add to the substance in a 100 cc. digestion 

 liask 10 to 20 cc. of a solution of 200 gm. of phosphoric auhydrid in 1 

 liter of pure concentrated sulphuric acid. Add about 0.1 cc. of mer- 

 cury and heat the flask gently until frothing ceases, then more strongly 

 until the solution is colorless. Allow the solution to cool, fill the 

 flask half full with water, and close it with a rubber stopper while the 

 contents are cooling. Place the solution in a distilling flask with a 

 spoonful of talc and a few drops of alcoholic solution of phenolphthalein 

 diluted with an equal amount of water. Add soda solution (<33 gm. 

 per liter of water) until slightly alkaline, and pour in quickly 12 cc. of 

 a solution of potassium sulphid (1 part of the sulphid to 1.5 parts of 

 water). Close the flask immediately with a rubber stopper carrying a 

 condenser, the upright part of which is at least 30 cm. long and of such 

 a diameter that the condensing steam does not obstruct it. Connect 

 the other end of the condenser with a Peligot tube containing 20 to 50 cc. 

 of dilute sulphuric acid, to which a little Congo solution (in water) and 

 sufficient water to close the opening of the tube are added. Distil the 

 ammonia and titrate as usual. 



1 See also West Virginia Sta. Buls. 19 and 22 (E. S. R., 3, pp. 629, 892). 



2 U. S. Dept. Agr., Division of Chemistry Bui. 31 (E. S. R., 3, p. 633). 



